Junior Golf News
Prestigious High School Girls’ Golf Award Presented
by Patrick J. McMahon
Ella Slicker was a four-year starter on the Shawnee Mission East girls’ golf team. During Ella’ s recently completed senior season, the girls’ 2025 fall season, she played in nine events, finishing first five times and second four times. Ella won a very competitive Kansas 6A Regional Tournament, shooting an outstanding three-under-par 68, which was seven shots better than the second-place finisher. She won the 2025 Kansas 6A State Championship, which follows her three previous state championship finishes: 2022 first, 2023 third, and 2024 fourth. In fact, Ella was undefeated during her 2022 freshman season, a first ever in Kansas 6A history.
In the classroom, Ella has achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.8 on a 4.0 scale( or 4.17 on a weighted scale). She has been on the school’ s honor roll every semester and is a member of the National Honor Society.
Ella’ s volunteer and leadership activities are extensive, including being: the Shawnee Mission East girls’ golf team captain for the past two years; a member of SHARE SME, a student lead volunteer group, in which she was a chairperson and a co-founder of a flag football tournament to benefit St Jude’ s Hospital; a member of DECCA; a bell ringer for the Salvation Army; and a Harvester’ s food bank volunteer.
Ella plans to finish her academic, leadership, and volunteer activities during the remainder of her senior year with the same commitment to excellence she has always demonstrated at Shawnee Mission East.
Ella Slicker named the 2025 Greater Kansas City Area high school female golfer of the year during the Kenneth Smith Award ceremony on December 3, 2025 at Shawnee Mission East High School.
The annual Kenneth Smith Award was presented to Ella Slicker on December 3, 2025, in a ceremony at Shawnee Mission East High School. The award is sponsored by the Kenneth L. and Eva S. Smith Foundation and is awarded annually to both a Greater Kansas City Area High School female and male golfer who best demonstrate excellence in the following areas: 9 Performance in high school golf tournaments. 9 Academic Achievement. 9 Leadership on the golf team and in other school areas. 9 Community Service through school, church, or other activities.
All area high school golf team coaches and athletics directors were invited to submit nominations for this award.
Looking to the future, Ella plans to attend Colorado State University next fall, where she will play golf on an athletic scholarship while pursuing a degree in marketing / sports management.
According to Ella’ s coach, Mr. Ben Hendricks,“ Ella is one of the best golfers in the Kansas City area, an exceptional student, and an active member of our community. She exemplifies everything we value as a student athlete.”
In recognition of Ella’ s outstanding achievements, the Kenneth L. and Eva S. Smith Foundation is contributing $ 5,000 to First Tee of Greater Kansas City to support their cutting-edge child development programs.
A companion Kenneth Smith Award will be presented next spring at the conclusion of the boys’ high school golf season.
For additional information, please contact Patrick J. McMahon at 913-491-9855 or email plemcmahon @ earthlink. net.
( Photo of Ella Slicker, by Katie Cowan.)
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